BECKLEY, W.Va. — The Ball Toyota Family of Dealerships announced multiple donations this week that will assist students of multiple West Virginia schools.
Members of Ball Toyota met with school leaders at WVU Tech in Beckley on Wednesday. The Ball Family presented a $50,000 gift to West Virginia University Institute of Technology. On top of that, the family also awarded $50,000 in scholarships to two Raleigh County students for them to attend WVU Tech upon their graduation.
Shawn Ball, President of Ball Toyota, said for the past 15 years now, they have made donations to West Virginia schools. He said they have a partnership with 248 schools that helps provide students with provide essential items like food, clothing and shoes through a “virtual pantry.”
“It’s basically money that they can use at their discretion,” Ball said about the respective schools. “They have this fund that they can get the money for.”
The schools in southern West Virginia, which include elementary, middle and high schools, were each given $1,500. The initiative is in collaboration with the Department of Education and Communities in Schools.
Ball said they get to work closely with the leadership of each school to see how they are utilizing the funds which also go towards personal hygiene products and school supplies for students.
“I get to see where the money goes and it is usually going towards the shoes and coats,” Ball said.
The school has to account for how the funds get used through the Board of Education.
State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt attended the final Ball Toyota scholarship event in Beckley today. We are thankful that, through collaborating with the Ball Toyota family of dealerships and United Way of Central WV, several students across the state will be… pic.twitter.com/amLOSLnt9f
— West Virginia Department of Education (@WVEducation) October 4, 2023
Ball said their reasoning for these donations are to assist students who are in a vulnerable stage of their life and due in part to an increase in child abuse and neglect cases across the state. Ball added that they want to raise awareness of these issues and be able to work with teachers and staff to provide needed resources for students.
Additionally, the Ball Family gifted Marshall University $30,000. $10,000 was also given to the local United Way.
In total, Ball said they gave away $500,000 this week in scholarship money, donations, and to fund the “virtual pantries.”
The stop in Beckley to announce the funding was the third stop of the week for Ball and the Ball Toyota Family of Dealerships. Many state and local public officials joined First Lady Cathy Justice, WVU Institute of Technology President T. Ramon Stuart and Superintendent of West Virginia Schools Michelle Blatt for the event in Beckley.